At the launch, surrounded by entrepreneurs, the Prime Minister announced that the target set for the government-backed Start Up Loans company three years ago of awarding 30,000 loans to entrepreneurs by 2015 has been achieved.

The iconic 1966 Routemaster bus - home to the NatWest Mobile Business School - is branded to catch the eyes of passers-by on the high street and on the open road. On board, aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs can talk to start-up experts and champions and take advantage of one-to-one advice, mentoring, workshops and local guidance. National partners include the Federation of Small Businesses, British Chambers of Commerce and UK Trade & Investment.

Abe Tilling, Interim Managing Director, Business Banking, said:

"We were invited to meet the Prime Minister inside No.10, following the launch. He was very interested to hear about all the great things we're doing, across the bank, to support businesses and to celebrate entrepreneurship across the UK. With the bus visiting towns and cities across England, Scotland and Wales, there will be an opportunity for thousands of our people to support this vital sector by getting involved both with this tour and with our partnership with Entrepreneurial Spark. It's been an incredible day and a real pleasure to meet more of our entrepreneurs."

Since StartUp Britain launched in 2011, more and more people each year are starting businesses. By parking the StartUp Britain bus in town squares across the country, the bank is helping aspiring entrepreneurs can get the help they need to turn their business ideas into reality.

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